Articulator - semiadjustable, arcon

ABSTRACT

Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon with lower and upper parts that could be detached from one another or interconnected, with two mechanical joints. An upper horizontal shoulder ( 5 ) is fixed to an elevator ( 4 ), said elevator ( 4 ) is connected to an upper vertical body ( 11 ) and can move vertically to adjust the vertical position. A lower vertical body ( 10 ) is fixed to the base ( 1 ) and holds an axis with two joint heads ( 14 ). The upper vertical body ( 11 ) is pivotably connected to the lower vertical body ( 10 ) through the two joint heads ( 14 ), the distance between the joint heads can vary due to an elastic element ( 18 ), thus reproducing the lateral shift. The articulation between the vertical bodies ( 11  and  10 ) can be locked and unlocked via an elbow shaped piece ( 13 ). The articulator lower part has an incisive platform ( 8 ) with a position angle that could be adapted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is about specifically constructed articulatorsemiadjustable, arcon for dental medicine and dental technique andserves for fixing and analyzing the working models, preparation ofprosthetic constructions and reproduction of the lower mandiblepositions and movements versus the upper mandible, outside patient'soral cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

We have information about “Articulator” that is described in DE 195 30157 A1; A61C11/02, containing the upper plate for fixing the maxillaryworking model and lower plate for fixing the mandibular working model.The articulator is partially adjustable (Semiadjustable—SA) and couldreproduce in terms of individual values not all but part of the basiclower mandible movements: opening and closing, protrusion, retrusion,laterotrusion, and mediotrusion—progressive lateral shifting.

The joint cavity in the mechanical joint is in the shape of roundedgroove, which is located at the interior of the semi-circular body.Joint head of spherical shape fits in the joint cavity. At the front thearticulator contains incisive pin and incisive platform with shaped upinclinations of incisive lead, on the left and on the right, versus themiddle line. This articulator has the following shortcomings: bothmechanical joints are interconnected at fixed distance; they are moremassive and volumetric; in-between the lower and upper working platethere is greater distance thus hindering the connection of the workingmodels to them; there is no fixing mechanical device that is supposed tomaintain at the rear the intra-parallel upper and lower plate of thearticulator; the incisive platform cannot rotate.

We have information about articulators (Semiadjustable) that from“nonarcon” turned into “arcon”—articulator condition. In the mentionedbibliography source N 2 is presented as Dentatus ARL (previousmodel—Nonarcon) was transformed into Dentatus ARA (new model—Arcon) andHanau 96 H 20 (previous model—Nonarcon) was transformed into Hanau, H2(new model—Arcon). In the cases of the two abovementioned articulatorsthe mechanical joints in the new model are the same just like in theprevious model, but with exchanged locations of the joint cavity and thejoint head. The mechanical joints of the articulators arcon—Dentatus ARAand of Hanau, H2 correspond to the human temporomandibular joint: thejoint head is located at the lower mandible, at articulator's lowershoulder correspondingly, and the joint cavity is at the upper mandible,at articulator's upper shoulder correspondingly, while in the case ofnonarcon—the articulators Dentatus ARL and Hanau 96 H 20 is the oppositeof the human temporomandibular joint: the joint head is at articulator'supper shoulder, and the joint cavity is at the lower shoulder and whenoperating them minimum inaccuracy is allowed. Thus their mechanicaljoints were reconstructed, in order to obtain the functional capacitiesof the arcon articulators.

There are various virtual articulators that are copies of the actuallyexisting articulators with partial adjustability (Semiadjustable). Theyare applied in the computer programmes for preparing the dentalprosthetic constructions according to the CAD/CAM technology. The dentalprostheses are being constructed and modeled in the CAD device, viavirtual juxtaposition between the virtual working models included in thevirtual articulator. After completing their design they are sent to theCAM machine for milling them out of a ceramic or metal block.

We are searching for manners and means for: improving the capacities ofthis articulator class—“semiadjustable, arcon”; cutting down thematerials consumption; facilitating the operations performed with them;improving the accuracy and precision when preparing dental prostheses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task of the invention is to create “Articulator semiadjustable,arcon”, as its construction will include new details articulator partswith which to improve its capacities.

The offered “Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon” is designed of twoparts: lower and upper. On the base of the lower part, magneticallyconnected working plate is located upwards, to which the mandibularworking model is fixed. At the front, incisive platform is assembled onthe base. At the rear the base is connected to vertical body to whichhorizontal axis is connected of variable length, with joint heads thatare shaped up at both its ends. To each joint head a body of the jointcavity is adapted that is connected to articulator's upper part. Thejoint head and the body of the joint cavity could be movably orimmovably connected, with the opportunity to separate the upper from thelower part of the articulator and to be fixed once again. Both bodies ofthe joint cavities in the upper part are connected to a plank that inthe middle is connected to the upper vertical body to which an elevatoris assembled at the front. The upper vertical body at the front isconnected to upper horizontal shoulder, under which magneticallyconnected working plate is located. The vertical body and the uppervertical body at the rear could be immovably blocked with an elbow. Atthe front of the upper horizontal shoulder incisive pin is assembledthat leans on the incisive platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention “Articulator semiadjustable, arcon” is described at theattached figures, where:

FIG. 1 contains drawing of the articulator, of frontal and lateral view,with presented digital numbers of the details1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,16,20;

FIG. 2 presents the articulator of rear and lateral view, with presenteddigital numbers of the details 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,19,20;

FIG. 3 presents a section of articulator's mechanical joint, with thefollowing numbered details 2,3,9,12,14,17,19;

FIG. 4 presents a section of articulator's mechanical joint, with thefollowing numbered details 10,15,18;

FIG. 5 is the drawing of the projection of incisive pin 7 and of theincisive platform 8;

FIG. 6 presents the prototype of “Articulator semiadjustable, arcon”, oflateral view with descended elevator 4;

FIG. 7 is the prototype of FIG. 6 of “Articulator semiadjustable,arcon”, of lateral view with ascended elevator 4;

FIG. 8 is the prototype of FIG. 6 of “Articulator semiadjustable,arcon”, disassembled in three parts: lower part 21, elbow 13 and upperpart 22.

Description of the details designated at FIG. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8:1—base; 2—plank; 3—body of the joint cavity; 4—elevator; 5—upperhorizontal shoulder; 6—working plate; 7—incisive pin; 8—incisiveplatform; 9—joint cavity carrier; 10—vertical body; 11—upper verticalbody; 12—pawl; 13—elbow; 14—joint head axes; 15—scale of axis lateralshift; 16—scale for the inclination of the incisive platform; 17—scalefor the inclination of the protrusion (sagittal) condyle path;18—elastic element; 19—fixator; 20—special screw; 21—lower part;22—upper part; 23—screw.

Examples Of Performance

Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon, consisting of base 1, over whichworking plate 6 is located. At the front, incisive platform 8 isassembled on the base. At the rear the base is immovably connected tovertical body 10, to which horizontal axis is assembled with two jointheads 14. In the middle of the axis, at the rear, scale is outlined forreporting the axis lateral shift on the left and on the right 15 andelastic element 18 is inbuilt. The axis with the two joint heads 14 ismovably fixed, with the blocking capability, with the aid of fixator 19to concave longitudinal groove, one on the left and one on the rightthat is located inside the body of the joint cavity 3. In the upper parton the outside of both bodies of the joint cavities 3, on the left andon the right pawl 12 and screw 23 are located with which to regulate thescale for the inclination of the protrusion (sagittal) condyle path 17,located at the joint cavity carrier 9. Both bodies of the joint cavities3 are connected with plank 2 in the middle that in turn is immovablyconnected to the upper vertical body 11, which at the front is connectedto the upper horizontal shoulder 5, under which the magneticallyconnected working plate 6 is located. At the front of the upperhorizontal shoulder incisive pin 7 is assembled that leans at incisiveplatform 8.

The vertical body 10 and the upper vertical body 11 at the rear could beimmovably blocked and de-blocked via elbow 13. At the front of the uppervertical body 11 an elevator 4 is adapted.

Operating the Articulator—Semiadjustable, Arcon

The lower mandible working model is fixed for example with gypsum andcentred at working plate 6, which is magnetically connected to base 1 ina manner that results in model's middle line and articulator's middleline coinciding and the chewing plane of the model could be horizontallylocated at the work bench. The upper mandible model is juxtaposed to thelower mandible working model in central position. Along the uppermandible working model minimum gypsum quantity and the working plate 6are placed, as the latter is magnetically connected to the upperhorizontal shoulder 5, which is immovably connected to elevator 4, fixedat the front of the upper vertical body 11 and capable of moving up anddown until propping up the upper working model and connecting to it.Vertical body 10 is immovably connected to base 1, and the uppervertical body 11 is immovably connected on one hand to the upperhorizontal shoulder 5, and on the other hand to plank 2, which isimmovably connected to carrier 9, to which the body of the joint cavityis connected 3, one on the left and one on the right. Vertical body 10and upper vertical body 11 could be blocked and de-blocked via elbow 13thus the base 1 and the upper horizontal shoulder 5 could remain incontinuous inter-parallel location while operating the articulator. Inthe middle of the axis with the two joint heads 14, scale 15 is outlinedat the rear for reporting the lateral shift on the left and on theright, and this extension and shortening movement could be performed bythe elastic element 18, inbuilt in the axis with the two joint heads 14,which are adapted to both bodies of the joint cavities 3 and via thefixator 19 they could be blocked in central position or perform openingand closing movement, in retrusion, laterotrusion and mediotrusion, withthe reproduction of progressive and immediate lateral shift, as well asopportunity for detaching the lower 21 from the upper 22 part of thearticulator and fixing them once again with the pin 12. With screw 23you could fix the inclination of the protrusion (sagittal) condyle pathaccording to scale 17, which is located at the external side of carrier9. The incisive platform 8, being propped up by the incisive pin 7 isassembled at the front of base 1 and it could rotate, as its inclinationcould be blocked with special nut 16 and reported at scale 20.

The advantage of “Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon” is that theoperations with it are facilitated, materials consumption is lowered andthe accuracy and precision of the prepared dental prostheses areimproved.

1. Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon, consisting of lower 21 and upper22 parts that could be detached from each other or interconnected withtwo mechanical joints, as the lower part 21 consists of base 1, overwhich working plate 6 is located, with incisive platform 8 assembled atthe front of it, and at the rear the base is immovably connected tovertical body 10, to which horizontal axis is fixed with joint heads 14,to which two bodies of the joint cavities are adapted 3, connected inthe middle with plank 2, which is immovably connected to the uppervertical body 11, connected at the front to upper horizontal shoulder 5,under which the magnetically connected working plate 6 is located withincisive pin 7 assembled at the front, propping up the incisive platform8 with the following features: the upper horizontal shoulder 5 isimmovably connected to elevator 4 that is fixed at the front of theupper vertical body 11 and is able of moving up and down, until proppingup the upper working model and connecting to it, as the upper verticalbody 11 and vertical body 10, which is immovably connected to the base 1could be blocked and de-blocked, via elbow 13, which ensures continuousinter-parallel location of the base 1 and the upper horizontal shoulder5 during the process of operating the articulator. 2.Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon, according to claim 1, with thefollowing features: the axis with the two joint heads 14 could beextended and shortened and this movement is reported at scale 15,located in the middle of the axis at the rear, as the axis movement withthe two joint heads 14 on the left and on the right could be performedby an elastic element 18, inbuilt in the axis 14 thus reproducing theimmediate lateral shift in both mechanical joints. 3.Articulator—semiadjustable, arcon, according to claim 1, with thefollowing features: the incisive platform 8, being propped by theincisive pin 7 could rotate and its inclination could be blocked withspecial nut 16 and reported at the scale of 20.